Thiruparankundram Deepam Contempt Plea: Madras High Court Directs Appearance Of Chief Secretary, Addl DGP Next Week

While hearing a contempt petition concerning lighting of lamps at stone pillar in Thiruparakundram hills, the Madras High Court (Madurai bench) on Tuesday (December 9) directed the state's Chief Secretary and Additional Director General of Police (L&O) to appear before the court next week.

Justice GR Swaminathan was hearing a contempt petition against non-compliance of its earlier order permitting lighting of lamps at the stone pillar in Thiruparakundram region.

After hearing the matter for some time, the court directed the appearance of Chief Secretary and Additional Director General of Police (L&O)on December 17 and further impleaded the Home Secretary in the petition.

During the hearing earlier today the court was informed by Additional Advocate General Veera Kathiravan appearing for the State, that the court's division bench is to hear appeals against lighting of lamp on December 12. He further said that an SLP filed by Tamil Nadu authorities challenging the Madras High Court order regarding the lighting of the lamp in the Thiruparankundram hills is also pending before the Supreme Court.

The Counsel for Petitioner said that the authorities are attempting to drag the case without complying with the court's order. He said that the division bench had not given interim relief and thus the single judge's order still stands.

Meanwhile Senior Advocate Vikas Singh appearing for the police commissioner said the SLPs were not pursued because the high court's division bench had agreed to hear the case. He said that the authorities did not want to pursue multiple litigations

Singh said, "Court can't ask temple to do something at a particular place just because the devotee wants it. Ultimately court has to decide the law. Implementation is with the executive. If executive feels that there's law & order problem, it's for them to decide".

At this stage the court orally said, "Take it from me. At your request I'm adjourning the case. I'll post it on Monday. If you don't get any interim relief, I'll pursue the matter".

However the respondent counsels urged court to post the case after a week adding that the division bench hearing will go on for more than a day since a battery of lawyers are arguing. This was opposed by the petitioners' counsel adding that, "Giving leverage like this will send the wrong signal to society. People will lose faith in the judiciary".

Additional Advocate General J Ravindran said that it was not as if the authorities did not want to comply with the court's order intentionally.

Senior Adv Jothi appearing for the respondents said, "Things can be achieved only with peace". To this the petitioner's counsel said, "This patience and magnanimity has caused us a lot for 1000 years".

Meanwhile the court orally said, "If you would've atleast gotten the SLP numbered, I would've simply adjourned". To this senior advocate Vikas Singh submitted that the only reason it was not pursued was because the high court's division bench agreed to hear the appeals. The court then said that it will consider the request and pass orders at 3pm.

While hearing the contempt plea, on December 4 the court had quashed the prohibitory order issued by the Madurai District Collector under Section 144 CrPC (Section 163 BNSS) in the Thiruparakundram region, following the clashes that broke out while implementing the court's order allowing devotees to go to the temple and light lamps at the stone pillar.

For context, the single judge had initially (on December 1, 2025) ordered the management of Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple to light the lamp at 6pm on December 3rd. A contempt petition was then moved by the Petitioner on December 03, alleging that no arrangements had been made to comply with the order. The judge then permitted the petitioner-devotee, along with 10 more persons, to light the lamp themselves. It also asked the CISF to give protection to the Petitioners.

The matter is next listed on December 17.

Case Title: Rama Ravikumar v. KJ Praveenkumar IAS and Others

Case No: CONT P(MD) No.3594 of 2025

Click Here To Read/Download the Order